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Morning Edition

December 29, 2025

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The Bears and Broncos are defying expectations this season, capturing division titles as both franchises undergo rapid resets. Off the field, however, questions linger for both teams when it comes to stadiums—especially in Chicago.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]]

Bears, Broncos Cap Fast Resets With Titles As Stadium Questions Linger [[link removed]]

David Banks-Imagn Images

While the Bears continue to struggle off the field with the search for a location to build a new domed stadium, the franchise’s prospects keep trending upward on the field this season.

Chicago clinched the NFC North division title—its first since 2018—after the Packers lost to the Ravens on Saturday night.

The division championship comes after the Bears paid up big time to land head coach Ben Johnson [[link removed]] this past offseason. Johnson, the former Lions offensive coordinator who was the No. 1 target of most teams during the most recent hiring cycle, signed a five-year contract reported to be worth roughly $65 million—an annual salary of $13 million.

Johnson, 39, was highly sought after by the Bears, hoping his offensive prowess would help quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft [[link removed]], after a disappointing rookie season in which the team went 5–12.

Chicago’s return to the playoffs comes as the franchise’s effort to build a new stadium is going so poorly that it has expanded its search for the right site to Indiana [[link removed]]. The Bears are seeking $855 million in public funding, targeted toward infrastructure, for a project set to cost at least $5 billion.

As champions of the NFC North, the Bears will host at least one playoff game at Soldier Field.

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Mile High Magic

The Broncos clinched the AFC West—capping a successful season on and off the field [[link removed]]—after the Chargers lost to the Texans on Saturday night, becoming the first team other than the Chiefs to win the division since 2015.

Like the Bears, Denver is also pursuing a new stadium [[link removed]], albeit with far less friction than the situation in Chicago.

Backed by the richest ownership group in the NFL, the Broncos in September announced plans to build a privately financed, multibillion-dollar retractable roof stadium in downtown Denver, with a targeted completion date of 2031. A new stadium would complement a new $175 million training facility [[link removed]], also privately financed, that is under construction and on pace to open ahead of the 2026 season.

SPONSORED BY GAINBRIDGE

Goalkeepers Helping Fight Hunger

Gainbridge® [[link removed]] and soccer legend Briana Scurry are teaming up to make a $99 donation per save made in Gainbridge Super League [[link removed]] matches to fight food insecurity in each club’s local market.

The $99 per save is a tribute to Briana’s sport-defining run with the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Gainbridge Savings Tracker [[link removed]] tracks the total number of saves made by goalkeepers across every team. At the end of the season, the money will be split evenly between all Gainbridge Super League clubs’ charities of choice, as well as the Gainbridge Golden Glove winner’s charity of choice.

Tom Izzo on Baylor Signing Pro Player: ‘Shame on the NCAA’ [[link removed]]

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo blasted the NCAA and the current state of college basketball in the wake of Baylor signing former professional player James Nnaji [[link removed]], who was selected with the No. 31 pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

“Shame on the NCAA. Shame on the coaches, too,” Izzo told reporters on Saturday [[link removed]]. “But shame on the NCAA, because coaches are going to do what they’ve got to do, I guess. But the NCAA’s the one—those people in those committees that are making those decisions to allow something so ridiculous, and not think of the kid.”

Nnaji, 21, is available to play immediately and has four years of eligibility. The Nigerian center has never played an official NBA or G League game, only a handful of Summer League games with the Hornets. He continued to play professionally in Europe after he was drafted.

Earlier this month, former European professional players Toni Bilić (Illinois) and Lucas Langarita (Utah) also joined college teams.

“What we’ve done in the NCAA has been an absolute travesty to me,” Izzo said. “We’re just worried about getting sued and we’re not gonna fight anybody. And I think leadership means you fight and you make decisions that are sometimes unpopular.”

Izzo, 70, has led Michigan State to eight Final Four appearances since taking over the program in 1995, including winning the national championship in 2000.

The legendary coach’s frustration includes the job NCAA president Charlie Baker is doing. “I’m not going to tell you that this president, to me, is doing anything but running from leadership,” Izzo said.

Finally, Izzo said he would like to “poll 360 of the coaches, and see how many are in favor of what’s going on” in college basketball.

Michigan State is 11–1 this season, tied for first place in the Big Ten, and ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25 poll.

DeChambeau Won’t Commit to LIV Future After Koepka’s ‘Shock’ Exit [[link removed]]

Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Bryson DeChambeau is leaving the door open regarding his future at LIV Golf after Brooks Koepka decided to leave [[link removed]] the league with one year left on his contract.

Like Koepka, DeChambeau’s deal expires after the 2026 season, and LIV’s most popular star won’t guarantee that he’ll be signing an extension.

“It’s confidential. I’m not going to share too much, but the conversations are in process,” DeChambeau told social media outlet Flushing It Golf [[link removed]]. “We have to get to a place where both parties have a good understanding of one another. It is getting to a place that makes sense for both sides. And, I think that can happen, but you never know. Life throws curve balls.”

In June at the U.S. Open, DeChambeau said [[link removed]] that he and LIV were “looking to negotiate [at the] end of this year, and I’m very excited. They see the value in me. I see the value in what they can provide, and I believe we’ll come to some sort of resolution on that.”

However, DeChambeau called Koepka’s departure a “shock” and said it “definitely throws in some unique things” to his own contract negotiations, which he isn’t sure will get done before LIV’s 2026 season opener in February.

“It’s where I want to be, but ultimately, it’s got to make sense for everybody,” DeChambeau said. “Because I could just do YouTube golf and be totally fine as well.” DeChambeau, 32, has 2.55 million subscribers [[link removed]] on YouTube, where he consistently posts videos with golf influencers and other professional athletes.

While DeChambeau said things at LIV “have got to change” and “improve,” he also thinks new CEO Scott O’Neil has “done a fabulous job” since replacing Greg Norman [[link removed]] in January.

Still, DeChambeau seems to want a stronger voice at LIV moving forward. “I don’t run this thing at all,” he said. “I don’t really have much say, to be honest with you. Which is funny, but it is what it is. And I sometimes wish I had more say, but that’s life and I don’t run the organization.”

DeChambeau is captain of the Crushers GC team at LIV, and said the team’s revenue this year was above $20 million. DeChambeau is among the LIV team captains who own 25% of their franchises.

So, what’s next for DeChambeau? “We’ll see what the year has in store for us,” he said.

SPONSORED BY AT&T BUSINESS

The WNBA and WNBPA agreed to a second extension of their current collective bargaining agreement just minutes before the first extension expired Sunday night. The CBA now runs through Jan. 9, 2026. [[link removed]]

The league initially proposed a 21-day extension, while the union countered with six weeks on Nov. 30, the day the original CBA was set to expire, a source told Front Office Sports. Both sides ultimately agreed to extend the agreement by nearly six weeks. As with the previous extension, either party can opt out with 48 hours’ notice.

Despite meeting consistently over the past month— including through the holiday weekend [[link removed]]—the league and union have yet to make sufficient progress to ratify a new CBA.

Check out the women’s sports content hub [[link removed]], presented by AT&T, to read the full story [[link removed]] and stay up to date on all things women’s sports.

STATUS REPORT Two Up, One Down, One Push

Desert Sun

Nick Kyrgios ⬆ The Australian tennis player beat Aryna Sabalenk, the No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player, in straight sets Sunday to win the “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match. Kyrgios won 6–3, 6–3. Prize money and potential appearance fees for the match were not disclosed [[link removed]].

Kyle Whittingham ⬆ Michigan officially introduced its new head coach [[link removed]] Sunday at a press conference in Orlando, as the Wolverines prepare for their Citrus Bowl matchup against Texas on New Year’s Eve. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood said he was “excited” to see what Whittingham brings to the program.

Colts ⬇ Indianapolis was officially eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend, becoming the first time since the Raiders in 1995 to start a season 8-2 and miss the playoffs. Overall, six teams have suffered that result. The Colts lost Sunday to the Jaguars, in what may have been the final start for 44-year-old Phillip Rivers [[link removed]].

Matt Ryan ⬆⬇ The former Falcons quarterback has had conversations with the franchise about rejoining in a “significant” front office role, according to Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer [[link removed]]. Ryan, 40, is “seriously considering this move and talks are ongoing,” per Glazer. Taking the job would likely mean Ryan would have to leave his role as an NFL analyst for CBS Sports.

Editors’ Picks Biggest Questions Looming for 7 Leagues in 2026 [[link removed]]by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]], Alex Schiffer [[link removed]], and Annie Costabile [[link removed]]Leagues are facing questions that will shape their impact going into 2026. The Year of A’ja Wilson [[link removed]]by Annie Costabile [[link removed]]No one in basketball had a bigger year. From Record Super Bowl Ratings to WNBA CBA Talks: 2025 in Charts [[link removed]]by Colin Salao [[link removed]]Seven data visualizations that defined the business of sports in 2025. Question of the Day

Do you think former professional athletes should be allowed to play college sports?

Yes [[link removed]] No [[link removed]]

Friday’s result: 51% of respondents said the NFL should continue scheduling games on Christmas Day.

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Show [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]]

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